10 Things Every Freelancer Should Try at Least Once

Now, you might be wondering what a bucket list is. Simply put, it’s a list of things you’d like to try, but never got a chance to do. It takes its name from the 2007 movie, The Bucket List, in which two aging and terminally ill men set out to do things they always wanted to do before they die.

So, a freelancer bucket list is a list of things that you’ve wanted to try as a freelancer, but haven’t taken the time to do. In this post, I list some things that I think every freelancer should try at least once, but that most freelancers don’t actually try.

10 Things Freelancers Should Try Doing

If you’re like me, you have a long to-do list for your freelancing business. At the bottom of the list are a bunch of freelancing to-do’s that you really wish you could do, but never seem to find the time for.

Here’s a list of some things that you really should make time for at least once during your freelancing career:

Write an eBook. I’ve already written one eBook, but I’ve got several in progress that I haven’t finished–so this item is still on my freelancing bucket list. An eBook doesn’t have to be textbook length, so most freelancers can tackle this. Possible benefits to the freelancer: establishes expertise, possible income stream.

Get a Guest Post Published. While I’m not a huge fan of some of the low quality guest posting that’s out there, getting a quality post published on the right blog can bolster your freelancing career. Possible benefits to the freelancer: establishes expertise, draws traffic to your own site.

Give a Presentation. Getting up in front of a group and talking about your freelancing profession may seem daunting, but many freelancers find that they actually enjoy it. Don’t let a fear of public speaking hold you back. Possible benefits to the freelancer: establishes expertise.

Get Interviewed. If you get the chance to be interviewed by an established publication or blog, seriously consider saying “yes.” An interview gets your information in front of more eyes. Possible benefits to the freelancer: establishes expertise, draws traffic to your own site.

Attend a Tradeshow. Many people find tradeshows to be fun and educational. They are also a great way to meet colleagues and potential clients. Possible benefits to the freelancer: learning, networking.

Develop Your Own Product. Do you dream of creating a product that you can sell, but you’ve never created one? Why not do it now? Possible benefits to the freelancer: stimulates creativity, possible income stream.

Become an Affiliate for Something You Believe In. An affiliate is someone who recommends other products and is paid when a product is purchased. Usually this is done through a link on your site. Possible benefits to the freelancer: learn about marketing, possible income stream.

Contact Your Dream Client. Do you have a client that you dream of working for, but haven’t dared to contact? Well, stop putting off that initial contact. Go ahead and take the first step. Write or email them. Possible benefits to the freelancer: possible work, networking.

Create Something Just for the Fun of It. There’s no doubt that freelancing is real work. Sometimes, though, the work aspect takes the pleasure from what we do. If you dream of creating great art or writing a novel, let yourself do it. Possible benefits to the freelancer: stimulates creativity.

Do a podcast. Have you tried podcasting yet? If not, what’s holding you back? Podcasts can be a great addition to your freelancing website. Possible benefits to the freelancer: establishes expertise, draws traffic to your own site.

As you notice, I’ve picked bucket list tasks that freelancers usually put off because they don’t immediately increase the cash flow or because they require extra time. However, each task does have potential benefits for the freelancer.

Pick one item, or several, and get started today.

Who knows? You might even find that you enjoy one of the items on my freelancing bucket list so much that you want to shift your freelancing business in that direction.

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